During the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, there was more than just racing action on the track. On Saturday of race weekend, the “Racing Goes Safer, Driver Safety Seminar” was held in the Long Beach Convention Center. This almost annual (not held during COVID) seminar is hosted by the Stand 21 Safety Foundation. This year, a video featuring Romain Grosjean kicked off the meeting, and then special guest and racing champion, Tommy Kendall, was invited to not only speak about what he went through in his horrific crash at Watkins Glen, but also to MC a very special announcement during the seminar. The announcement was the 2023 class of inductees into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHF). This Hall of Fame is very unique in that it represents all forms of motorsports from cars to bikes to planes to boats. Two of the inductees (doctors Terry Trammel and Stephen Olvey) have been instrumental in racing safety and helping Indy car drivers in particular. I was able to get a short interview here with the president of the MSHF, George Levy. A true gentleman and passionate supporter of all forms of motorsport, the interview left us wanting to visit the MSHF museum and speak with him again. As it turns out, we were able to do that (Part 2 next week). Here’s a short interview that will give you an overview of the MSHF and also some of the inductees for the class of 2023. Enjoy! NOTE: In Part 2, we’ll have a personal tour of the MSHF and also some nice photos from the fabulous facility. In the meantime, for more information on the MSHF and the 2023 inductees, please visit: www.mshf.com.
By Larry Mason Copyright © 2022 Larry Mason safety seminar Levy and Kendall crop Motorsports Hall of Fame of America President George Levy and Tommy Kendall share the lectern for the 2023 class inductees announcement during the Stand 21 Safety Seminar at the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. MSHF inductees crop This was the slide used to start the announcement of the 2023 MSHF inductees. George Levy MSHF and friends After the Safety Seminar, George Levy and icons of the sport paused for a quick photo op. From L-R, Journalists and authors, John Oreovicz and John Zimmermann, multi-time SCCA Trans Am champion and MSHF inductee Tommy Kendall, MSHF President, George Levy, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian, and author/journalist David Phillips. Daytona IS crop The “World Center of Racing” (aka Daytona International Speedway) is the home of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Interview and photos Copyright © by Larry Mason